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What do you do for a living?<SPAN> </SPAN>Do you enjoy it?<SPAN> </SPAN>Does it suit your needs financially, emotionally, professionally? <SPAN> </SPAN>Do your work hours fit nicely into your family/personal schedule, the way you want them to?</SPAN>

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<SPAN>Or, have you painted yourself into a corner?</SPAN>

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<SPAN>Let me give you a little background on me.<SPAN> </SPAN>I am a Mechanical Engineer.<SPAN> </SPAN>Do you know how I decided for this to be my vocation?<SPAN> </SPAN>Well, it�s what my Dad did for a living, of course.<SPAN> </SPAN>My Dad is very well off (comparatively), and very happy that he had that career for 40+ years.<SPAN> </SPAN>He is now retired, doing a lot of hunting and loves to ride his Harley.<SPAN> </SPAN>He has stashed away well over $2M for his retirement, and is loving life.<SPAN> </SPAN>The only thing that he regrets is that he waited until 59 to retire.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>I, on the other hand, have watched my attitude towards my profession, and the industry that I�ve worked in for over 20 years, deteriorate into a bitter, miserable mess.<SPAN> </SPAN>I make a fine income, don�t get me wrong, but I�ve also grown accustomed to that income.<SPAN> </SPAN>I have family responsibilities, etc. (divorced, child support).<SPAN> </SPAN>Yes, I have painted myself into a corner, so to speak.<SPAN> </SPAN>The majority of the paint is just bad financial decisions along the way.<SPAN> </SPAN>A couple of years of spending foolishly can stick with you for the next 20 years.<SPAN> </SPAN>The domino effect.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>Am I an unhappy person?<SPAN> </SPAN>Quite the contrary.<SPAN> </SPAN>I have a pleasant disposition, and a generally positive outlook on life.<SPAN> </SPAN>I know that I am where I�m at in life based primarily on decisions I have made.<SPAN> </SPAN>Those decisions have brought me to where I am. <SPAN> </SPAN>I can�t point the finger at anyone.<SPAN> </SPAN>I�m not blaming �the man� for my lot in life.<SPAN> </SPAN>I am blaming �THE man�. Me.<SPAN> </SPAN>Shame on me for not recognizing this sooner!!</SPAN>

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<SPAN>They say that if you truly enjoy what you do for a living, then you�ll never work a day in your life.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>Position yourself (financially) so that you have flexibility in what you do. </SPAN>

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<SPAN>What I have found is that my interest in my profession is waning.<SPAN> </SPAN>I no longer look forward to coming to work.<SPAN> </SPAN>And, when I am here, even if it is a productive day, it wasn�t necessarily a happy day, or a day that I enjoyed.<SPAN> </SPAN>I put in my 8-12 hours a day, and then leave it at the door when I leave to go home.<SPAN> </SPAN>I get this feeling that I am wasting my life away by not enjoying every minute.<SPAN> </SPAN>Work feels more and more like an obligation than a �profession�.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>My wife works, and we have a side business that generates a couple thousand a month.<SPAN> </SPAN>So, we can pay the bills and have plenty left over to do the things we want to do.<SPAN> </SPAN>But, what is all of that worth if you feel in your heart that you are pissing away 40-60 hours a week to do it?<SPAN> </SPAN>Four figures a month for child support, on one child.<SPAN> </SPAN>That�s not a car loan, it�s a house.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>It�s not what you do when you are at work that will determine your financial future (if you work for someone else).<SPAN> </SPAN>That can go away as soon as they decide that they don�t need you anymore.<SPAN> </SPAN>It�s what you do when everyone else is kicking back in their la-z-boy chair that will separate you from the masses, and allow you to position yourself for retirement at 45, rather than 65.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>If your job sucks, do something about it.<SPAN> </SPAN>I am.<SPAN> </SPAN>Life is too short.<SPAN> </SPAN>This is our �kick at the can� folks.<SPAN> </SPAN>Don�t� swing and miss.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>Poker?<SPAN> </SPAN>Well, it�s just a hobby for me.<SPAN> </SPAN>That�s all I can expect at this point.<SPAN> </SPAN>Going from being a brand new player to one that makes $250K a year takes a little bit of time and money investment.<SPAN> </SPAN>But, in the meantime, I consider this training, because I fully expect that it will become my sole source of income sooner than later.<SPAN> </SPAN>First step, retire the wife.<SPAN> </SPAN>Pretty easy to do.<SPAN> </SPAN>Retiring me will be another story, but at least there�s a goal and a purpose involved.<SPAN> </SPAN>That is the key to success.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>Plan your work, and work your plan, and much success to all of you in achieving YOUR goals.</SPAN>

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<SPAN>P.S. � And, KUDOS to you that have chosen a profession that you love.<SPAN> </SPAN>Don�t let that passion die, like I did.</SPAN>

I don't think it's depressing, rather the post is something extremely realistic to so many of the young people on this site.

My first profession was a lawyer on Wall Street. Why? Because my family said I should be a lawyer. Only difference with his circumstance and mine was after 3 years, I had no obligations and decided to get more involved in business.

This ride will go much quicker then you expect, so plan accordingly. That is what he is saying.

Do you know the most important time for saving so that your can retire young? How about 22 to 38. Why, because you should have less obligations and the money has opportunities to turn many times over.

So at the worst time in your life to plan your future, it becomes the most important. That is what he is saying. Take into consideration the hours you want to work, do you want to and have the discipline to work independently. How much income, and how much savings.

Nothing fun about being 45 and broke! I thought very wise words!

Great post! I'm making $90,000 this year, but you know what, I'd gladly make half that to enjoy what I do.

OhAat

I was in the mortgage industry, and it did very well by me.

What don't you like about it? Is it the compnay you are at or is it the extremely complicated and ever changing nature of the industry-the revenue is great. 100k to 300K is not unrealistic for an originator.

There is a catch 22, if your business is growing, then you need to grow the way you think about your business to keep up with the ever growing clientle. Build a business within a business. For people who do not do that, they get overwhelmed.

Well anyway, if you want to discuss, let me know!